Kyudo, the Way of the Bow, is the perhaps the oldest of Japan's traditional martial arts. The bow has been used in Japan since prehistoric times. From the fourth to the ninth century, the close contact and exchange of ideas between China and Japan had a strong influence on Japanese archery; particularly the Confucian belief that a person's true character could be seen in the refinement of their archery. Over hundreds of years, archery was further shaped by Shinto traditions and Zen Buddhist philosophies, as well as by the practical requirements of warriors. Court nobles concentrated on ceremonial archery while the samurai class emphasized kyujutsu, the martial technique of using the bow in actual warfare. As the introduction of firearms to Japan in the sixteenth century caused the military importance of the bow to wane, Japanese archery began to slowly transform from the strictly technical and practical art of kyujutsu (the technique of the bow) to the more spiritual practice of kyudo (the way of the bow). This transformation into a reflective, peaceful discipline positioned kyudo to be the first "martial art" to be allowed in Japan after World War II when the American occupation began to lift its prohibition against all forms of martial art instruction. In its modern form, kyudo is practiced as a meditative art and as a means of moral and spiritual development. Many archers practice kyudo as a sport, with marksmanship being paramount. However, a fundamental philosophy articulated in Japanese is seisha hitchu, "a true shot never misses". When the spirit and the technique of the archer is in balance, that is, when the archer's practice is fully conformed to the shaho, "the Law of Shooting", then the shooting is correct and the natural result will be for the arrow to pierce the target. To give oneself completely to the shooting is the spiritual goal. |
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